Loading machine



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N. A. NEVYDICK.

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N. A. NEWDICK LOADING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1922- Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES NORTON A. NEWDICK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLODEB @UMYANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed June 21, 1922. Serial No. 589,996.

This invention relates to improvements in loading and conveying machinery and is especially directed to a loading machine adaptable for use in coal mines for the purpose of providing power operated means for transferring loose or broken down coal from the face or breast of a mine working to pit or mine cars into which the loose coal is delivered and removed from the mine. I

A principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a loading machine of this character which is formed to include a portable base unit having mounted thereon a gathering conveyer, the said conveyer having its front end arranged to swing in a substantially horizontal plane across the floor of a mine and in advance of said base unit, its rear end being terminated above said base unit and mounted upon a substantially vertical support constructed to provide a vertical swinging axis about which the conveyor may swing bodily horizontally so that its front end may be-maintrained in gathering engagement with the materials to be loaded, and to provide in combination with the conveyor an endless, floor engaging power actuated, traction device constructed to impart a powerful side swinging movement to the conveyer, so that the latter may be positively forced under and maintained in loading engagement with the materials to be gathered, which lie loosely upon the floor of a mine, subsequent to the shattering of the solid vein of coal by blasting or other suitable methods.

Another object of the invention rests in the provision of a loading machine wherein the base unit or truck carries a vertically and horizontally swinging loading or secondary conveyor, arranged in receiving relation with respect to the rear discharge end of the gathering or primary conveyer, and wherein the loading conveyer is provided with an endless belt means for leading the materials, discharged from the gathering ronveyer to a relatively elevated point at i the rear or discharge end of the machine,

so that such materials may be discharged into underlying pit cars, the construction is such that the loading conveyer may, by the operation of power driven means, be swung horizontally and vertically with respect to the base ,unit so that the discharge end thereof is verticall and horizontally adjustable relatively to t e pit cars or other means into which the material from the loading machine is discharged.

A still further object resides in providing the loading conveyer with a belt including an endless movable chain, whereby upon the operation of the conveyer the movement of said chain may be employed to eifect the operation of the mechanism for raising and lowering and horizontally swinging the loading conveyer bodily.

Other objects of the invention rest in the provision of a loading machine of this type wherein the rear end of the gathering conveyer is mounted for horizontal swinging movement upon the upper end of a vertically arranged support, which latter has its lower end provided with a ball and socket joint construction seated in cooperation with the base unit, and by means of which the gathering conveyer may swing vertically as well as horizontally in a new and improved manner in any position of angular adjustment with respect to the base unit; in forming the said vertical support to constitute a casing wherein is provided a planetar gear train by means of which motion rom a drive motor will be imparted to the endless belt of the gathering'oonveyer; in providing power actuated means for raising and lowering the front end of the gathering conveyer, whereby When the machine is transported from place to place in the mine the front end thereof will be positioned above the mine floor or trackway, together with the endless traction means employed for swinging the gathering conveyer laterally; in providing an improved fiexible mounting for supporting the front end of the loading conveyer in connection with the base unit for the purpose of permitting of angular adjustments of the loading conveyer with respect to the base unit and yet to impart power to the endless conveyer thereof irrespective of its operative POSliJlOIlS in providing improved electrical controls 1or the various mechanisms of the machine which controls admit of the selective operation of the various parts of the machine from a centralized and protected operators position; in the provision of a loading machine having a large loading capacity together with simplicity in construction, convenience in control and operation, of a design to reduce friction to a minimum and thus admit of the employment of but two operating motors of relatively small size; and in other general and specific improvements which will become more readily apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention accordingly consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, here inafter to be fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the-several views thereof:

Figure I is a top plan view of the improved loading machine comprising the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the shiftable motor frame for the gathering conveyer of the machine, parts of the lateral .feed conveyer being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and disclosing the endless traction devices employed in effecting the lateral movement of the gathering conveyor.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure disclosed in Figure 5.

Figure 1'. is an enlarged vertical sectional view disclosing the drive mechanism between the motor of the gathering conveyor, the means for raising and lowering said conveyer and the endless traction devices for shifting the convever laterally.

Figure 8 is plan view, partially in section, of the noseend of the gathering conveyer. V

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8.

F gure 10 sectional view on the line. 101O of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional View taken through the pla notary gearing and associated structure emplo; ed for supporting and driving the gathering conveyor.

Figure 12 a horizontal sectional view taken through the main supporting truck of the machine and setting forth the mechanism for propelling the machine in driving the loading conveyer.

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 2.

Lesse /1% Figure 14 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the forward sprocket construction of the loadin conveyer.

Figure 15 is a detail view disclosing the ball and socket mounting for the supporting standard or casing of the gathering frame.

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1o16 of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a vertical sectional view taken through the magnetic brake construction.

Figure 18 is a sectional view on the line 1818 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a detail sectional view on the line 19-19 of Figure 12.

Figure 20 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the structure for raising and lowering the loading conveyer frame and shifting the said frame laterally.

Figure 21 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the structure for raising and lowering and laterally shifting the loading frame or hopper.

Figure 22 is an enlarged view in side clevation of the head shaft construction of the loading conveyer.

Figure is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24- is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the spring boxes of the truck.

Figure a horizontal sectional view taken through the resilient bumper mechanism of the truck.

Figure 26 is a plan view of the chain structure employed in the gathering conveyer.

Figure 27 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2727 of Figure 26.

Figure is a similar view on the line 2828 of Figure 26, and,

Figure 29 is an enlarged vertical sectional view disclosing the mechanism for effecting the raising and lowering and side swinging movements of the loading conveyer.

Referring more particularly to the specific details of construction of the single embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, there is provided a loading machine which includes in its general construction a portable base unit, in this instance in the form of a truck 1, a front primary or gathering conveyor 2, and a rear secondary or loading conveyor 3. The front conveyer includes a pan or frame A which has its rear end pivoted so that the front or nose end of the said gathering conveyer will be enabled to sweep horizontally back and forth across the floor of a mine and forced beneath the coal to be loaded, for the purpose of gathering such coal within the confines of the machine and lead ing the same rcarwardly into a portable mine car situated beneath the discharging end of the loading conveyer 3. It will be understood that in the operation of machines of this character the coal is blown down ordiharily by blasting operations from the original vein, and the present machine is adapted to be forced into this loose coal to gather the latter from the floor of the mine and discharge the same into the portable mine cars. To effect this object economically, rapidly and in a labor saving manner is the primary purpose of the present invention, and secondly, to mechanically improve upon machines heretofore proposed and employed for this purpose.

In this instance the truck or portable base unit 1 is composed gener ally of structural steel members wherein is included spaced longitudinally extending side bars 1 and a connecting horizontally disposed top plate 5.

' The truck is supported by a front axle 6, an

[iii

intermediate axle 7 and, if desired, a rear axle 8. The front and intermediate axles are longitudinally spaced an appreciable dis tance and are provided with flanged track wheels t, while the rear axle 8, if used, is located comparatively contiguous to the intermediate axle and is provided with plain faced track wheels 10, the ends of these axles are mounted preferably in roller bearings 11 contained in axle boxes 12, the latter in this instance being spring supported and guided by the truck side bars -11 and guide angles secured thereto. Liners 11 are provided in conjunction with the axles to vary the distance b tween the centers thereof, whereby adjustments may be made in drive chains, hereinafter specifically described. connected with said axles.

An electric motor 15 is mounted on angle shaped cross members 16 disposed at the rear of the truck, said motor being employed to furnish power to propel the truck, drive the rear or loading conveyer 3 and to raise and swing the rear conveyer. At the left side or end of the motor 15, the armature shaft of the latter is provided with a sprocket 17 for a roller chain 18, which latter is employed to drive a sprocket 19 loosely mounted on a shaft 20, journaled in connection with the truck and arranged in parallelism with the armature shaft of the motor. The sprocket 19 forms a casing having a cover plate 21 at one end. 0n the shaft 20 and Within the sprocket 19- there is placed a ratchet wheel 22, which is keyed, as shown, to the shaft 20. A plurality of bolts 23 extend through the sprocket casing 19 and carry )ivoted pawls 24, which engage the teeth of t e ratchet 22. Springs 25 are employed to maintain the pawls normally in contact with the ratchet 22 at speeds below substantiallv\ half the maximum speed of the shaft In the power transmitting direction the rake or inclination of the ratchet teeth and pawl ends keep these members in contact on account of thrust at any speed, either slow, intermediate or high, but in the idling direction speeds above half that of the maximum speed of the shaft 20, the pawls respond centrifugally and fill out against the resistance exercised thereon of the springs 25, and thus avoid the noise and wear of contact with the ratchet teeth.

The shaft 20 is supported at one end bya roller bearing 26, mounted in a bracket 27 secured to the top plate 5 of the truck, and at the other end by a similar bearing 28 mounted in a bearing box 29 secured to one of the side bars 4 of the truck. The shaft 20 is provided with an integral spur pinion 30, which drives a larger gear 31 upon a counter shaft 32, journaled in connection with the truck 1 adjacent to and disposed in parallelism with the shaft 20. The sprocket casing 19 is provided with clutch jaws 33 which engage a slidable jaw clutch 3-1 operated in any suitable manner on the shaft 20, which locks the sprocket casing it) to the shaft 20 for unitary rotation, irrespective of the direction of rotation of the sprocket 19. As the motor 15 is of the reversible type the shaft 20 may, therefore, be driven in either direction when the clutch 31 is engaged or in one direction only when it is disengaged.

One end of the shaft 32 is mounted in a roller bearing 35 contained in the bearing bracket 2?, and the other end of the shaft 32 is similarly mounted in a roller bearing 36 contained in a box 37 secured to one of the sides 4 of the truck. The shaft 3:2 in this instance is provided with an integral sprocket 38 for a double chain 39, which, in turn, is trained around and drives a sprocket 40 fixed upon the intermediate axle 7. A second sprocket 11 on the axle 7 drives a single roller chain 42 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 43 fixed on the front axle 6.

The axles 6, 7 and 8 have their ends received in spring pressed journal boxes, as shown in Figure 24, whereby the machine is resiliently supported, shocks and jars on the mechanism thereof reduced to a minimum when the service is considered and. the machine rendered thoroughly track worthy.

At the opposite end, or the right hand side, of the motor 15. there is disposed at sprocket 4 1, for a quadruple chain 45, and a similarly formed sprocket 16 loosely mounted on a *countershaft l7, journaled in the truck substantially in registration with the shaft 20. It will be observed that these sprockets and chains are duplicates of the corresponding sprockets 17 and 19 and the chain 18 on the other side of the motor and previously described. It will be apparent that the chains 18 and 10 may be tightened by shifting the motor 15 rearwardly. The shaft 47 is mounted in bearings 48 and 49, the former being located in the bracket 27, and the latter in a bracket 50, attached to the top plate 5 of the truck. On the shaft 47, Within the sprocket casing 4:6,

there is mounted a ratchet wheel 51 which, with its pawls, is the duplicate of the ratchet 22, but is set to transmit power in the opposite direction with respect to the ratchet 22.

From the ratchet 51 power is transmitted through the shaft L7 to a gear 52 and thence to a second gear 53 carried by a shaft 54, journaled in the truck for rotation and dis posed in parallelism with the shaft 47. The shaft 54 is mounted in-roller bearings 55 and 56, formed in the brackets 50 and 27 respectively and carries at its inner end a bevel pinion 57. This pinion drives a bevel gear 58, carried rigidly on a short vertical shaft 59 mounted in roller bearings 60 and ($1, the former being contained in the bracket 27 and the latter in a lower bracket 62, suitably secured in connection with the truck frame. Below the bevel gear '58 there is placed acslip clutch 63 of a multiple disc type, whose casing is provided with sprocketteeth 64 on the outside thereof, the interior of the casing being provided with the usual disks 65 and springs 66. It will be understood that the disks are arranged so that alternate members thereof will be keyed to the shaft 59 and to the interior of the clutch casing 63, and that by the medium of the springs 66, sufiicient frictional pressure will be maintained between adjoining faces of said disks to normally cause unitary rotation on the part of the shaft 59 and the casing 63. Upon overloading, however, rela tive movement will take place between the adjoining disks, preventing injury to associated gearing and drive mechanism. This clutch is in this particular instance non-adjustable and is therefore initially set, by the agency of an ammeter test, at about twice the usual maximum load placed .on the rear or loading conveyor 3.

A wide roller chain 67 operates in a horizontal plane around the sprocket 64, and drives a pair of chain sprockets 68 and 69 provided on the lower ends of substantially vertically disposed shafts 70 and 71, located near the front ends of the loading conveyor 3, all of these sprockets being located beneath the top plate 5 of the truck. The chain 67 also passes over a fixedidler sprocket 72, located on the tight or pulling side of the chain, and a swinging idler 73 is mounted on an arm 74 ivoted tothe under side of the top plate 0 the truck and actuated, by a spring 75, to form a take-up for the purpose of maintaining the chain 67 at proper tension and to eliminate slack therein. As will be hereinafter described the sprockets (Band (39 are.- capable of swinging on an arc, and it is therefore important that the movable idler 73 be provided to compensate for the varying positions assumed by the sprockets 68 and 69.

The rear conveyor includes a relatively enlarged hopper C, which is employed to reeeivematerial discharged from the front or gathering conveyor and to lead such material rearwardly of the machine for discharge into portable pit or mine cars placed beneath the rear -or discharge end of the hopper. The hopper C is formed to include side plates 76, which are secured in any suitable manner at their forward ends to bearing housings 77, which, in turn, are journaled in a yoke shaped pivoted bracket 78 as indicated at 79. The bracket 78 is preferably formed to. provide a centrally located integral pivot 80, which is of generous proportions and projects through a subplate 81 secured to and constituting a part of the truck 1. This pivot has a ball thrust bearing 82, a washer 83 and a holding bolt 84, which serve to retain the thrust bearing in its operative position and permit of relatively free swinging movement on the part of the rear loading conveyor 3 about the vertical axis defined by the pivot 80. By this construction the hopper C and the loading conveyor may be bodily oscillated in a substantially horizontal plane, and by reason of the journals 7 9 the said hopper and loading conveyor are capable of being vertically oscillated for the purpose of controlling the relationship between the discharge end of the conveyor 3 and the mine or pit car underlying the same.

Bearing bosses 85 surround the journals 79 and upper and lower arms 86 and 87 respectively of a yoke shaped nature project from the bosses 85 to carry roller bearings 88 and 89 for the reception of the shafts 70 and 71. Each shaft 70 and 71 carries a bevel pinion 90 each of which drives a bevel gear 91 bolted or otherwise secured to a sleeve 92. The sleeves 92 are loosely mounted on a transversely extending foot shaft 93 and each of said sleeves carries a sprocket 9-1 at its inner end, the sprockets being keyed, as shown, to the sleeves. These sprockets 94 have trained thereabout steel thimble roller chains, which are spaced transversely and form the conveyor or load-- ing chains 95, the sleeves 92*rotate in bearings 96 mounted in the bearing housings T7. Angle flights 97 are connected to the chains at long tudinal intervals and the same are provided at their outer edges with teeth 98 to assist in gripping lump coal.

It will he noted that each conveyor chain 95 is independently driven by one of the bevel pinions 90 and connected parts. but since both sprockets (3S and (39 are driven by the same chain (37 the effect is the same as if the conveyor were driven from one side cnly, except the drive is of double strength. Again, it will be observed that the rear conveyor 3, including the hopper C is pivoted to swing horizontally about the pivot 80 and vertically about the journals 79, and irrespective of these various positions which the loading conveyor is capable of assuming the drive thereof will be completely effective. The sideplates 76 of the rear or loading conveyor are extended to the rear or discharge ends thereof, at which point a take-up is supplied for the headshaft 99, which consists of a pair of Z bars 100, forming slides for the bearing boxes 101 which contain roller bearings 102 in which the shaft 99 is mounted for rotation. It will be observed that the shaft 99 is prevented from endwise movement by end plates 103 and sprockets 104 over which the chains 95 pass are positioned upon the shaft 99 and restrained from endwise movement thereon by lugs 105 provided on keys 106. a

It will be observed that the side plates 76 are provided on their inner surfaces with upper, lower and intermediate angle bars 107, 109 and 108 respectively, which extend longitudinally of the hopper and conform generally to the longitudinal shape thereof. The upper angles 107 are positioned immediately above the upper runs of the conveyor chains 95 and are utilized to keep the coal out of the chains. The intermediate angles 108 connect the side plates 76 and the bot-- tom plate 110 of the hopper, the upper strands of the conveying chains 95 being disposed to ride on the plate 110, and the lower or return strands or runs of the chains 95 being disposed to ride over the lower angles 109. By this construction the hopper will possess all requisite strength to support materials imposed thereon and eflicient guides will be provided for the conveying chain's. Flaring side plates 111 are riveted to the plates 76 and are proportioned and situated to'directmaterial upon the bottom plate 110 andinto engagement withthe conveying chains 95 and the flights The gear 53 is provided with clutch jaws 112. which engage a jaw clutch 113 slidably provided and keyed on the shaft 54. When the clutch 113 is engaged power may be transmitted to operate the rear or loading conveyor in one direction only, this being due to the ratchet construction 51. When the clutch 113 is disengaged, however, no movement of the shaft 54 results, and consequently motion on the part of the loading conveyor will be'precluded. The motor 15 is preferably controlled by means of a rerel-sing controller 114 mounted in connection with and beneath the rear end of the front or gathering conveyor 2. \Vhcn the, clutch M is engaged and the clutch 113 disengaged. the traction wheels may be driven in either direction at speeds ranging from zero up to several miles per hour. When the clutch 34 is disengaged the ratchet 22 still connects the motor 15 and tractor Wheels for movement in a forward direction, and this movement is utilized primarily for a sumping or powerful forcing of the front or nose end of the gathering conveyer into and beneath the loose coal, lying on the floor of amine, adapted to be gathered. If now the clutch 113 is engaged the rear conveyer drive is connected for movement in one direction only, and this is in the opposite direction from the sump feed and in the proper direction of conveyance. In this condition, therefore. which is the normal loading condition, the control 114 controls both the sump feed and the operation of the rear. conveyor, movement of the control handle in one direction guiding the sump feed and in the other direction starting the loading conveyor. and since the resistance for the motor 15 is designed for continuous operation on any notch, either of these motions may be operated at any speed within their ranges. It will be noted that when the sump feed is applied the rear conveyer is stopped. due to theoppositely working ratchets 22 and 51, but as the sump feed is quickly accomplished and the rear conveyer has about twice the capacity of the front conveyer, the accumulated coal in the hopper C is capable of being quickly disposed of. Since the sump feed and rear conveyer are never operated together, the whole power of the motor 15 is available for either.

At the front end of the truck 1, substantially over the forward axle 6, and secured to the top' plate 5, there is placed a. cup 115 in which is positioned the ball pivot 116 for the front conveyer 2. It will be observed that the cup 115 and the pivot 116 constitute a ball and socket joint construction by means of which a completely flexible support is provided for the rear part of the front conveyer, which will enable the said front conveyer to possess limited movement in substantially any direction, so that the forward nose end thereof will readily follow and conform to irregularities in the floor of a mine over which the said nose end passes. The pivot 116 is formed on the under side of a flanged circular casting 117, which is bolted o the closed end of the lower part of the barrel shaped gear casing 118, which latter is provided with a flange 119 at the top thereof secured to the under slde of the bottom plate 120 of the front conveyor 2.

Referring more. particularly to Flgure 4 it will be observed that there'is provided an electric motor 125 for driving) the front conveyor, which is supported y a plate 121, secured to a pair of forwardly extending channel bars 122. These bars have their rear ends secured to the lower part of the gear casing 118, and their forward ends secured to the under side of the plate 120 by gusset plates 123 and angles 124. It will be observed that by this construction there is provided a frame for supporting th front motor 125, and that the casing 118, the motor and the supporting frame therefor will produce a unitary rigid structure capable of being supported by and oscillating from the pivot 116. The front motor 125 in this instance is an exact duplicate of the rear motor 15 and drives the front conveyor 2 as follows:

The head shaft 126 is mounted at its lower end in a roller bearing 127 and has its upper end indirectly mounted in a roller bearing 128, both bearings being contained in the casing 118. The motor 125 has a bevel armature pinion 129, which drives a beveled gear 130 mounted horizontally upon a bushing 131, which runs loosely on the shaft 126. The weight of the gear 130 and the super-imposed parts are carried by a roller thrust bearing 132, resting on a cap plate 133 of the bearing 127 the weight of the shaft 126 being carried by a separate thrust bearing 134 located in the bottom of the easing 118. Surrounding the bushing 131, above the gear 130, is a flan'ged spur pinion 135 fixed to rotate in unison with the gear 130 by means of rivets or their equivalents 136. Above the gear 135 there is a second gear 137 of equal diameter with respect to the gear 135 but having a wider face. A bushing 138 is loosely positioned upon the shaft 126 and receives the gear 137. The latter in this instance is provided with a flange 139 and a-connecting ring 140, between which flan'ge and ring are mounted a plurality of pins 141, each carrying a spur pinion 142 loosely mounted thereon. An internal gear 143 is secured within the easing 118 and is engaged by the planetary pinions 142 which roll around within it and thus impart motior to the gear 137.

The ear 135, the pinions 142 and the gear 14 form a first planetary gear train, and a second train of planetary gears is formed by the gear 137, the pinions 144 and the internal gear 145. Pinions 144 are carried upon pins 146 secured to the flange 147 and the ring 148. The flange 147 is provided with a hub 149, which in this instance is a press fit on the shaft 126 and keyed thereto, the outer surfaces of said hub being engaged with the rollers of the bearing 128. It will now be seen that power is transmitted from the pinion 129 through the various gears to the hub 149 which, in turn, drives the shaft 126. The direct reduction provided by these gears between the gear 130 and the shaft 126 in this instance is substantially 10 to 1. A bronze facing 151 is provided between the gear case and the flange 147 to take any upward thrust of the gears.

The head sprocket 150. which is driven by the shaft 126 and is located above the plate 120 forthe purpose of driving the front or gathering conveyor 2, is provided with a casing 152 having a removable cover 153. Vithin the casing 152 there is a spider or ring 154 having a series of cored pockets 155, provided with springs 156 to put prcssure on the clutch disks 157 and 158. The spider 154 is made of bronze and its inner surface is a loose fit on the shaft- 126. A bushing 159 in the sprocket is also loosely provided on the shaft 126. The disks 157 and 158 are free to move longitudinally or endwise of the shaft 126, and the larger disks 157 being keyed to the interior of the casing 152 while the smaller disks 158 are similarly keyed as at 160 to the shaft 126, the said disks being arranged in the usual alternate relationship, and are maintained in frictional contact by the sprin'gs 156. It will be understood that under normal loads the shaft 126 will rotate the sprocket 150 in unison therewith, but

top of the casing for oiling purposes. Thisoil may be carried down through a central port in the shaft 126 to lubricate all the bearings and gears below. It will be understood that when the above described slip clutch is set to carry the normal load on the conveyor 2 it will slip on an overload and thus protect the motor and gearing.

The structural portion of the frame or pan D of the front or gathering conveyor 2 of the machine consists of the bottom plate 120 which has its body portion nclined longitudinally with respect to the horizo rtal and disposed to substantially overlie the forward end of the loading conveyor. Connected with the bottom plate are two side plates 163 of varying height. which are connected to the plate 120 by angles 164. The chain guides for the forward or gathering conveyor 2 consist in this instance of a pair of opposed channel l):ll' 165, located centrally of and extending longitudinally with the bottom plate 120. Connected with the channels 165 is a pair cf top plates 166 which have their outer edges equipped with depending bars 167 and spaced from a pair of similarly formed bars 168 fastened to the bottom plate 120. Bracing brackets 16!) are fastened at inter- -vals to channels 165, and a cover channel 170 is secured to the brackets 16!). Tin-lined side guards 171 are connected to the channe'ls 170 and plates 166. {v th's ronstrnrtion it will be observed that the shape of 

